Clipper for sheet material



Patented Feb. 13, 1945 UNITED CLIPPER. FOR SHEET MATERIAL Thomas R. Robinson and John R. Robinson,

Everett, Wash.

Application June 14, 1943, Serial No. 490,780

Claims.

This invention relates to clipping machines for cutting up relatively long sheets of traveling material into pieces of predetermined width.

The embodiment of this machine herein disclosed is particularly well adapted for use in clipping of veneer that is to be used in the manufacture of plywood, but it will be understood that the description of the invention as to its application in the plywood art is illustrative and not a limitation of the invention.

In the plywood art a. log is placed on a lathe and a sheet of veneer is turned or peeled from the log. The first veneer delivered from a log generally has ragged edges or other ragged or torn portions and it is necessary to hand clip the sheet of veneer to salvage portions usable for making plywood. Also, some of the portions which are not usable in making plywood are sufiiciently clear so they may be salvaged for chip stock in the cellulose art. Still other portions will have defects which will render such portions merely waste stock for burning. Cften when the veneer sheets start to run complete it maybe that surface checks or knots or other defects are present so that the veneer sheet is usable only for cross banding stock. Often the stock will be sufiicient- 1y clear to cut full width pieces for face stock and often half width pieces may be practically cut from the veneer stock.

From the foregoing described condition various width pieces of stock are cut from time to time. For example, the width of the stock used to make chips may be 13" in width and also the stock to be used as cross banding stock may be 13" in width. Also, pieces to be used for face stock may be 26" in width or 52" in width. The foregoing mentioned inches of 13, 26, and 52 are those now commercially employed in connection with plywood which will finish, after dressing, to 48". inwidth and are thus obviously mere examples.

It is an object of this invention to provide an automatic veneer clipper that may be supplemented by a manually operable or hand con-.

trolled clipper (commonly referred to as a hand clipper) in the line of production along which a sheet of veneer is traveling to permit the operator to selectively hand clip where the same is commercially necessary and to permit the operator to selectively control the operation of the automatic clipper so that clips may be made at predetermined widths such as 13", 26", or 52".

' In the plywood art, the conveyor mechanism is controlled by the operator of the hand clipper so that travel of the conveyor may obtain for a predetermined length and then the operator may clip the veneer while the same is stationary. Then the operator, by operation of the commonly termed jogging lever, may intermittently advance or stop the travel of the veneer sheet-to permit the operator to cut out defective portions and cut the veneer to desired widths and thus provide commercially usable pieces and the greatest number of' those having the greatest value.

It is an'object of this invention to permit the operator to intermittently advance and stop the conveyor mechanism and hand clip the veneer at desired spaced locations when such procedure, in the judgment of the operator, is the most commercially feasible procedure and also to permit the operator to automatically cut or clip the veneer stock and while the stock is traveling at an accelerated and continuous speed to desired widths such as 13", 26", or 52".

It is a further object of this invention to permit clipping at accelerated speeds of travel-of the conveyor over those heretofore commonly employed. Manually controlled veneer clippers now in common use for clip-ping veneer peeled from logs are commercially limited to a, speed of about I lineal feet of veneer per minute. This limitation is due primarily to the inability of an operator to select locations of cutting and to operate the machine at a faster speed. In an embodiment of our automatic clipping mechanism speeds of over 225 lineal feet a minute have been found entirely practical.

It is an object of this invention to provide a veneer clipper comprising a rotary cutter having knives moving in the same direction and at the same speed as the travelin veneer and further having means for reciprocably moving said rotary cutter toward and away from and the knives thereon into and out of cutting. positions relative to the traveling veneer.

It is a further object of this invention to synchronize the reciprocable movement of the rotary cutter and the rate of travel of the veneer so that selected predetermined knives will be in a proper position for cutting at the time the rotary cutter is closest to the veneer and the width of the veneer pieces cut will thus be determined by the speed of reciprocation of th rotary cutter.

It is a further object of this invention to provide cutting knives operable in a predetermined circle tangentially adjacent traveling veneer and to provide relative reciprocable movement between the said. knives and the said veneer to move a selected knife or knives into or out of cutting positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a veneer clipper of simple'and efficient construc-j tion that is capable of highfspeed operation to ,cut up veneer into narrow pieces and without reciprocating the rotarycutter member.

The above mentioned general objects of this invention, together with others inherent in the same, are attained by the mechanism illustrated with parts, as the conveyor and supporting sheaves therefor, being omitted;

Fig. 2.is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1 with a portion of the mechanism broken away;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the'structure of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by broken line 3 3 of Fig. 1; a,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the machine taken substantially on broken line 44 of Fig. 1 and A with fragments of the conveyor means shown:

Fig. 5 is an end view, on a smallerscale than the other figures, and looking in the opposite direction to that of Fig. 3, and showing diagrammatically veneer conveyor mechanism and a hand clipper that may be used with this invention;

Fig. 6 is a view with parts shown diagrammatically, parts in elevation and parts in section of control mechanism employed in this invention; and

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of mechanical interlocking mechanism employed in the control mechanism of this invention.

A typical frame of this machine comprises two spaced apart upright end frame structures I and II and an intermediate upright frame structure I2 all supported on base frame structure I3 and having diagonal brace members I4 where needed.

- Transverse frame members, such as channel ironsv I and I6, are secured to the end frame structures I0 and I I and to the upright frame structure I2 near the upper end portions-fof said upright frame structures I0, II and I2.

.Adie roll I1 is operatively disposed between the upright frame members I0 and I2 a short distance above the base frame members I3.

The die roll I1 has an external surface constructed of some material that is substantially softer than the cutter knives 33, such as woodblocks- I8 positioned so that the grain of the wood is substantially radial as respects the roll,

said material being firm enough to out against but soft enough so that it will not unduly damage the edges of the cutting knives 33. Preferably the die roll I1 is of relatively large diameter and is mountedso that its uppermost peripheral por- -tion.is at substantially the same height as theupper surface of conveyors over which the veneer is traveling.

An axial bearing shaft protrudes from each end of the die roll I1 and is joumaled in'a suitable bearing member 2| carried by the adjacent upright frame structure I0 or I2. Each bearing member 2| is guided between two spaced'apart upright guide members 22 that are secured to the adjacent upright frame. vAn adjusting screw 23,

threaded. through'a support 24, is connected with each bearing member 2| so that each bearing member 2| may be adjusted vertically to properly align the die roll and to provide for correct ngs like refer" adjustment between the die roll and the knives 33 of the rotary cutting member. v

The die roll I1 is driven at a peripheral speed equal to the lineal travel of the veneer passing 5 thereover, which may be accomplished by an endless driven belt 25 shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5. The belt 25 is supported on sheaves 26. One of r v the sheaves 26 is fixedly mounted on a shaft 21 that is drivenpas by a link belt 82. The driving 10' means of link belt 02 is synchronized with the veneer conveyor means 80.50 as todrlve'the die roll at'sub stantially the same peripheral-speed as the veneer that is being clipped. One ofgthe sheaves 26 preferably has a tensioning spring 15 28 (Fig. 4) connected therewith to function as a belt tightener for belt 25.

A rotary cutter, indicated generally by 30;- see 1 and 3) that extends through a yoke 361and is Each bearing block 31 is guided for-vertical reciprocation'infl journaled in a bearing block 31.

guide means 38 formed in the upright framel 30 or I2 by which it is supported.

Each bearing yoke 36 is connected by a connecting rod 40 with an eccentric band 4|, preferably formed in two parts as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Each eccentric band 4| is operatively 5 disposed on an eccentric disc 42. The two eccentric discs 42 are mounted on and secured to hesame shaft 43. The: shaft 43 extends crosswise of the traveling veneer and the end portions of said shaft are journaled in bearings 44 ,0 in lever arms 45 (see Fig. 2). One lever 'arm 45 is positioned above each of the upright frame structures III and I2 and'one end portion of each lever arm 45 is mounted-on a fixed pivot 46. The other end of each lever arm 45 is con- 45 nect'ed by a link 41 with a. lever 48 on ashaft 49. The shaft 49 (see Fig. 3) has another lever arir'i I00 secured thereto and the lever arm I00 is connected by. a. connecting rod IOI' with a piston I02 (see also Fig. 6) in a pneumatic cylin- 50 der forming means means I03 is pivotally supported by pivot I04 which is supported by frame I05 carried by frame I0. Movement of the lever arms 45 up- 'wardly in response to travel of' piston I02 in an upward direction will lift the rotary cutter member 30 clear of the veneer or relatively away from the die roll I1 so that the knives 33 cannot cut and movement of arms 45 downwardly in response to trave1 of piston I02 in a downward direction will lower rotary cutter member 30 or \relatively toward the die roll I1 and into a posi-- tion where knives 33 may out. However when member 30 is lowered, operation of the eccentrics I01 and venting to the atmosphere of air on the opposite side of the piston I02 via, conduit I08. Piston 2 is. urged in the opposite direction by pressure in conduit I00 and release of pressure in conduit, I01. IAn electrically-spring controlled double valve I0! is preferably employed to control the connection and disconnection of conduits I01 and I00 from a-source or 1 I03. Cylinder formin tank of compressed air 68 and from discharge to the atmosphere. When solenoid H is deenergized, spring III will movevalve I08 out of the position shown in Fig. 6 and conduit I08 will be connected with tank 68 and conduit I0'I vented to the atmosphere and when solenoid III) is energized as shown in Fig. 6, conduit I0I will be connected with tank 68 and conduit I08 vented to the atmosphere.

When the lever arms 45 are held down in the positions shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, a knife or the knives 33 will cut when the eccentric 42 is at its lowest point, which is 180 from that 'shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5.

The eccentric shaft 43 is driven from a jack shaft 50 (see Figs. 2 and that is positioned to one side of the eccentric shaft 43 and journaled in bearings 5I on the upright frame struc tures I2 and II.

The jack shaft 50 is provided withtwo loosely and rotatively mounted sprocket wheel members 52 and 53 that have clutch jaws 54 rigid therewith. Two clutch members 55 and 56 are splined on the jack shaft 50 in operative positions as respects the clutch jaws 54 of thesprocket wheel members 52 and 53 respectively.

The clutch members 55 and 56 are adapted to be selectively moved into and out of engage-.

ment with the clutch jaws 54 of the respective sprocket wheel members 52 and 53 by clutch The sprocket wheel member 53 on thejack shaft 50 is driven by a link belt 18 that con-' I1 and 50.

The driving arrangement just hereinbefore described provides for driving the eccentric shaft,

43 at a predetermined speed when the clutch member 56 is engaged as respects sprocket wheel 53 and the clutch member '55 is disengaged as determines the frequency of the vertical reciprocations imparted to the rotary cutter and in this way determines the width of cut of the veneer.

Thus in the present example, the peripheral spacing between each of the four knives 33 is one unit, as for example, thirteen inches. If the shaft 43 is in its lowermost position and is not rotating, then each knife 33 will cut and the control levers 51 and.58. The clutch control levers 51 and 58 each have one end portion fulcrumed on a fixed pivot means 58. The other end portions of said levers 51 and 58 are respectively connected by connecting rods 60 and 6|' with pistons 62 and 63 ,(see also Fig. 6) in pneumatic cylinders 64 and I06. A spring65 in each cylinder and I06 yieldingly urges the pistons 62 and 63 into positions to neutralize or disengage the clutch members 55 and' 56 from the clutch jaws 54. The levers 51 and 58 are preferably mechanically interlinked by link 68 functioning as a safety means to insure that the pistons 62 and 63 travel in predetermined timed relation.

Air conduits 66 and 6! connect the respective cylinder forming means 64 and I06 with a tank 68 of compressed air. 'The tank 68 is connected with a suitable source of supply of compressed air by the conduit fragment shown.

Preferably electrically controlled valves 10 and II are provided in the respective conduits 66 and 61 and may be controlled from any suitable remote location'. Each time one of the valves 10 and II transmits pressure from tank 68 and the other exhausts to the atmosphere, the clutch 55 or 56 controlled by said valve will be engaged with its respective sprocket wheel member 52 or 53.

The shaft 43 that carries the eccentric discs 42 is driven from the jack shaft (see Fig. 2) by a link belt I2 that operates on sprocket wheels I3 and 14 on the shaft 43 and jack shaft 50 respectively. a

The sprocket wheel member 52, Fig. 1,' is

.driven by a link belt I5 that connects said sprocket wheel member 52 with a sprocket wheel,

width of each cut will be one unit or thirteen inches. If the shaft 43 is rotated at the same speed as the rotary cutter 30 (this obtains when clutch engages sprocket whel 52 with jack shaft 50) then there will be one reciprocation of the rotary cutter 30 in each revolution thereof and thewidth of the cut will be four units or fifty-two inches. Next, if shaft 43 is rotated at twice the speed as the rotary cutter 30 (this obtains when clutch 56 engages sprocket wheel 53 with jack shaft 50) then there will be two recip- 4 rocations of the rotary cutter 30 in each revolution the cutter knife).

thereof and the width of the cut will be two units or twenty-six inches. Obviously, a unit may be of any desired dimension.

It is to be understood that this invention is also not limited to any number of knives on the cutter 30. There may be for example only one knife on the cutter 30 and then if the shaft 43 is rotated at the same speed as the cutter 30. there will be one cut (the length thereof being the length of the peripheral path of the cutter knife) per revolution of the cutter 30. Next under such circumstances, if the shaft 43 is rotated at one half the speed of the cutter 38,

there will be one cut per two revolutions of the cutter 30 and the length will be two units (each unit being the length of the peripheral path of Also, a multiple number of knives other than four, such as six, may be employed and speeds of one to three or one to two or others between the cutter 30 and the shaft 43 may be employed to provide selective cutting of various units.

The driven shaft 11 is synchronized with and driven from the same source by motor I43 (diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 6) as endless traveling conveyor (Fig. 5) on which veneer 8I (Fig. 4) to be clipped is fed through the machine. The cutter 30 is driven from the shaft 1? ness to permit the required vertical or recipro- In the present example, the sprocket wheels 53 and 'I8 are of the same size to provide a one to one driving ratio between the shafts impart to the cutting edges ofthe knives a peripheral speed substantially equal to the speed at which the veneer is traveling.

The end portion of the jack shaft 58 shown at the right in Figs. 1 and 2 preferably has a brake drum H2 thereon. A brake band H3 extends around this brake drum H2 for the purpose of frictionally eng ng the same. The brake drum H2 has a notch H4 therein for the reception of a locking plunger H5 (see Figs. 2 and '7). An

opening H6 may be provided in the brake band- H4 through which the plunger H5 may operate.

The plunger H5 is reciprocably supported in guide means H1 and is connected with a bell crank H8 that is mounted on a fulcrum 98. A

' connecting rod 9| connects the bell crank H8 with a piston 92 (see also Fig. 6) in a pneumatic cylinder 93. A conduit 94 having an electrically actuated valve 95 therein connects the pneumatic cylinder 93 with the pneumatic supply tank 68. A spring 96 yieldingly opposes piston 92 and urges the lockin plunger H5 into a retracted position. When air under pressure is admitted to the cylinder 93, it will overcome the force of the spring 96 and urge the locking plunger H5 toward locked position as respects the drum H2. When plunger H5 enters notch H4, this will lock the jack shaft 58 against rotation.

The plunger H5 can only enter the notch-H4 when the eccentrics 42 are in such a position as l to hold the cutter 38 in its lowermost position,

I 43 rotates a portion of a revolution, under the weight of the cutter 38 acting through connecting rod 48 and eccentric 42, the jack shaft 58 will rather slowly move until plunger H5 engages notch H4.

.Referring more particularly to Fig. 6, the cylinde'r I83 has been angularly moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 so that said Fig. 6 may prises valve I8, piston 62, cylinder 64, conduit 66,

and connecting rod 68. The mechanism that provides for locking shaft 43 and in turn providing a 13-inch cut comprises-valve 95, piston .92, cylinder 93, connecting rod 9|, and conduit 94.

A suitable source of electrical energy is provided on conductors H9 and I28. When the control mechanism I2I is in the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, energy from conductor I28 will pass along conductor I22, thence to conductor I23 because of the position of the control mechanism I 2I, thence through. and'energizing solenoid I24, and thence the energy will return via conductor I25 to the other source of energy I I9. Upon energizing of solenoid I24, the valve mechanism 'II will move to the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings so that a source of compressed air 68 will urge piston 63 to the left as respects the showing in Fig. 6 of the drawings and compress spring in cylinder I86. Upon de-energizing of solenoid I24, spring I26 will rotate valve member II so that conduit 61 leading from the cylinder I86 will be connected to the atmosphere. u

It is to be remembered that connecting rod H is connected through control levers 51 and 58 and link 69 with connecting rod 68 so that valve member H must connect cylinder-I86 with the source 68 and the valve member 18 must exhaust the cylinder 64 to the atmosphere before the parts may assume the position shownin Fi 6 of the drawings. s

When the control mechanism I2I is moved so as to connect conductor I22 with conductor I21, the solenoid I24 wilhbe de-energized and thus valve II will move to ventcylinder I86 to the atmosphere and solenoid I28 will be energized; Energizing of solenoid I28 is accomplished by energy leaving conductor I28, thence along conductor I22, thence to conductor I21- (because of the assumed position of the control mechanism I2I)" thence through solenoid I28 and thence via. conductor I29 to the other source of energy H9. Thus by both mechanical and electrical interlinking, only one of the clutch members 55 or 56 may engage with its respective clutch jaws 54.

Also, the cylinder 93 and mechanism connected to conductor I38 (because of the assumed position of control mechanism I2I) thence through and energizing solenoid I3I and. thence via conductor I32 to the other source of energy. H9. Energizing of solenoid I3I will move valve 95 to connect source of compressed air 68 with cylinder 93 and compressed air against the piston 92 will tend to urge the connecting rod 9| downwardly (as respects the showing in Fig. 6) Downward movement of the-connecting rod 9| will be transmitted through the bellcrank H8 and urge the plunger I I5 toward the notch. I I4 in the drum H2. However, we provide a mechanical interlock so that plunger I I5 will not move toward the notch H4 unless the clutch member 55 and 56 are disengaged from their clutch jaws 54. This mechanical interlink embodies a link I33 (see Fig. 2) which is vpivotally connected at one end with control levers 5'I58 and is slidably mounted in a support I34. The link I33 (see also Fig.

' '7) is provided with a notch I35 therein and the between the operation of plunger H5 and the clutch members 55 and 56 eliminates possibility of locking jack shaft 58 when the same is being driven or vice versa. H y

In view of the fact that the lever arms 45 should be subject to operation regardless of the operatlve position of the clutch members 55 and 56 and the plunger I I5, there is no mechanical or electrio interlock between the valve I89 and the valves will cause piston I02 to move downward and such movement will in turn be transmitted to lower the lever arms 45. Upon opening of switch I31, spring III will angularly move valve I09 so an operator may cause the arms 45 to move upwardly and the cutter 30 will be raised so that the knives 33 may not cut.

In operation an operator may be hand clipping the veneer 8| with clipper mechanism I46 and lever I45 (Fig. 5) and may have one of the valves 95,-;10- or H set to cut the desired width and at the same timethe switch I31 may be open so that the knives are not in cutting position. Then when the operator desires to cease hand clipping he may close switch I31 and the arms 45 will be moved downwardly and clipping will commence at the predetermined width selected by the said valve 95, 10 or H. Switch lever I39 also preferably operates another switch mechanism I40 when switch lever I39 is moved in a plane at right angles to the plane in which it was moved to operate switch mechanism I31. This may be accompllshed by universal pivot means I of well known construction. When switch means I40 is closed, energy from source I20 will pass along conductor I42, through closed switch I40 and motor I43 and thence along conductor I44 to the other source of energy I I9. The motor I43 is diagrammatically shown and drives conveyor 80 (see Fig. 5) and the clipping mechanism of this invention. This switch lever I39 may be used to jog the conveyor 80 so that by lever I45 (Fig. 5) the standard hand clipper I45 may be operated and the extent of travel of the veneer may be determined. Also, while the hand clipper indicated diagrammatically by I40 is being operated, the operator will move the switch lever I39 in a plane to intermittently operate switch I40 and when the desired width of material is selected, then by operation of the lever I45 the material will be hand clipped. In the meantime while the operator is hand clipping the veneer, the switch I31 will be in open position and .thus the cutter 30 will be in inoperative position.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms. dimensions, and arrangement or the parts of our projecting blade means and the die member;

a and selectively operable moving means angularly means andthe die member, said power means moving said arm means and thereby relatively moving said blade means andv said die member into and out of operative cutting relation, whereby' upon movement of said arm means into one position non-cutting relation obtains between said rotary cutter and said die member and upon movement of arm means into a secondposition cutting relation obtain between said rotary cutter and said die member and the rate of cutting is determined by the cycles of movement of said reciprocating devices.

- 2. In a machine for clipping moving sheet material, a rotary die member; a rotary cutter member having radially projecting blade means;

means providing substantially equal peripheralspeed to said blade means and said die member; reciprocating devices connected with one of said cutter and die members providing relative movement therebetween, and power means, having a plurality of predetermined speeds, connectable withsaid reciprocating devices imparting varying cycles of reciprocation to said re- 'ciprocating devices in' timed relation with the relative position of the radially projecting blade comprising a driven shaft connected with said reciprocating devices, a plurality of driving sheaves rotatably mounted on said shaft, and

clutch means fixed on the drivenshaft and selectively engageable with one of the said driving sheaves, whereby upon operation of said clutch means cutting relation obtains between invention, without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting dorth only a preferred form of embodiment.

We claim:

1. In a machine for clipping moving sheet nected with one or said cutter and die members providing relative movement therebetween; power means, having a plurality of predetermined speeds, connected with said reciprocating devices imparting varying cyclesof reciprocation to said reciprocating devices in timed relation with the relative position of the radially said rotary cutter and said die member and the rate of cutting is determined by the cycles of movement of said reciprocating devices.

' 3. In a machine for clipping moving sheet material, a rotary die member; a rotary cutter member having radially projecting blade means; means providing substantially equal peripheral speeds to said blade means and said die member; reciprocating devices connected with one. of said cutter and die members providing relative movement therebetween; power means, having a plurality of predetermined speeds, connectable with said reciprocating devices imparting varying cycles of reciprocation to said reciprocating devices in timed relation with the relative position of the radially projecting blade means and the die member; selectively operable means engaging and. disengaging the power means and the reciprocating devices; and selectively operable locking means connected with said reciprocating devices for holding the reciprocating devices against reciprocation and holding the one of said cutter and die members connected therewith in a cutting position as respect the one not connected,

whereby upon disengagement of the power means from the reciprocating means and the holdingof the latter in a predetermined position,

' the cutter and the die members may be held in a cutting position respecting each other.

rality of predetermined speeds, connectable with said reciprocating devices imparting varyingcycles of reciprocation to said reciprocatingdevices in timed relation with the relative posiand die members connected therewith in a cutting position as respects the on not connected, whereby upon disengagement of the power means from the reciprocating means and the holding of the latter in a predetermined position, the cutter and the die members may be held in a cutting position respecting'each other.

5. In a machine for, clipping moving sheet material, a rotary die member; a rotary cutter member'having radially projecting blade means; means providing substantially equal peripheral speeds to said blade means and said die member;

material feeding means feeding material between said cutter and die members at a lineal speed substantially equalto the said peripheral speeds; pivotally mounted arm means; reciprocating devices carried by said arm means and connected with one of said cutter and die members pro-' 'viding relative movement therebetween; power means, having a plurality of predetermined speeds, connected with said reciprocating devices imparting varying cycle of reciprocation to said reciprocating devices in timed relation with the relative position of the radially projecting blade means and the die member; and selectively operable control means for angularly moving-said arm means and thereby relatively moving said blade means and said die member into and out of operative cutting relation, and for operating said material feeding means, whereby simultaneous control obtains in relatively moving the cutter and die members into and out of cutting relation with operation of the feeding means.

' THOMAS R. ROBINSON.

JOHN R. ROBINSON. 

